Rowley's PM GarySobers jr in Limbo. MP's refuse to sign

PNM MPs refuse to sign PM 'endorsement' letter
Stuart in limbo

Days after Stuart Young was chosen as Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley's successor at a parliamentary retreat in Tobago, he is now in limbo, as several MPs who were in that caucus are said to now be refusing to endorse him on a document indicating he will have majority support in the House of Representatives when Rowley eventually steps down.Cabinet sources have told Guardian Media that Leader of Government Business Camille Robinson-Regis started canvassing MPs yesterday to get their signatures for the document, which will be forwarded to the President eventually.

But sources said as Robinson-Regis began attempting to physically obtain the signatures of the MPs who participated in the recent vote, she met some hurdles.Guardian Media was reliably informed that at least nine MPs have initially declined to register their signatures.This, as a fallout has developed among MPs over the manner in which the voting process went down and why it was necessary so soon in the first place.The lack of signatures on the endorsement letter could now throw a wrench in the leadership transition which Rowley assured would be "smooth."

On the issue of why there is now contention after Young won the straw vote on Monday, sources said MPs were initially under the impression that Rowley was going to step away from both prime ministership and the party leader position sooner rather than later. As such, they were under the impression that Young would have been in an interim prime ministerial position pending a convention to select a political leader.However, "after the vote, the caucus realised that Dr Rowley was not going to resign as political leader anytime soon and would stay on in that position until the convention, which is carded for in September."
Sources said they were also unhappy that some MPs were coerced into going in a particular way during the voting process with the promise of senior government positions if the party were returned to government.
Guardian Media attempted to reach out to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Robinson-Regis on the alleged concerns but there was no response up to press time.

Rowley's big political gamble

Of the tens of thousands of PNM party members, only 20 were required to vote for Young or Pennelope Beckles for the prime ministerial position, with Young winning the vote 11 to nine.
While that very slim margin is enough to meet the constitutional requirement for him to replace Dr Rowley as prime minister, there is no guarantee that the wider PNM membership will vote him in as political leader.
Furthermore, from recent rumblings within the party, there are strong suggestions that the PNM rank and file may wish to be led by someone else.

This is where Dr Rowley’s decision on the political leadership is crucial, given that any move to convene a PNM convention prior to the election, could expose exactly how deep the current divisions are within the ruling party, something that could potentially hurt its chances of returning to government.
Senior party members, including Ferdie Ferreira and Jennifer Baptiste-Primus, believe Dr Rowley has foisted Young upon the party and are suggesting that the wider party membership be allowed to make a leadership decision soon.

This poses clear risks.
To do so now creates a real possibility of Young losing the poll for political leadership, which would invalidate him in the eyes of many as the rightful PNM prime minister and fuel the Opposition’s political campaign for governance of the country.Judging from his words, it appears that Dr Rowley has already calculated the risks and will not be going the convention route, opting instead to remain as political leader until after the general election.

No rush to sign off on pick for PM...
MPs back down on Young

The move to gather sig­­­na­tures among People’s National Movement (PNM) MPs in order to facilitate the appointment of Stuart Young as prime minister has hit a snag.
Following the retreat last weekend, at which Stuart Young was selected as the successor to outgoing Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, Government Leader in the House Camille Robinson-­Regis was yesterday assigned the task by Rowley to collect the signatures meant for presentation to President Christine Kangaloo.

The intended letter for the President has to contain the signatures of MPs pledging support for Young’s leadership in the Parliament and, therefore, for his appointment as prime minister.
Sources said some MPs signed. However, they indicated that a number of MPs have not because they have taken the position that they will not sign the docu­ment until they hear from the PNM’s General Council, which meets this Saturday.

They feel the General Coun­cil should have a say in what is being done and, specifically, when there should be a leadership convention. Some MPs argued that there is no rush since the Prime Minister indicated he would not be resigning as PM before March.

Trying to understand this - Young won the vote fair and square.

Camille Regis has a problem with the democratic vote?

Also, why is out in the public? Any dissent should be done, and resolved, behind closed doors - and then one communication, as a united front, published to the public.

PNM is a great party and has always prevailed because of astute leadership

In reply to Prako



Read....he does not have a majority of votes .....21 MP's minus PM= 20
He has 11 votes...
The majority of 20 is.....????

In reply to sgtdjones



He has 11 vs 9 - isn't that an unassailable majority?

Now what you have to rewind to is remember the "Raging bull" dilemma when Manning put Rowley in the cold. Who stood with Manning and not Rowley?: Camille.

Camille was a Manning Girl and knew that was her path to glory. I don't know why Rowley brought her back - in hindsight she is proving to be a thorn.

In reply to Prako



Is math that bad in T&T...



T&T democracy